News About the NJ Jr. Titans Hockey Club

Turkey hangovers must have slowed the typing of our game summaries. I just got these today. If you want to read about your team, have a parent send in a recap.

The Titans sent 8 teams to Hershey, and it was the little guys who went the furthest.  Squirt A and Mites went to the playoffs, but both came up short Sunday in close games, sending the club home without a trophy.  That said, it appeared to be a very well run tournament and the Titan families enjoyed the park and the hotels, Chocolate World and the hockey. 

In case you missed it on the Pee Wee A site earlier in the week, pictures from the tourney were posted on http://www.yspi.com/photos.htm 

 Squirt B sent in a recap from their weekend:

Squirt B team played a total of three games at the Hershey Tournament which included one on Friday and two on Saturday.  The first game was played at the Giant Center and the boys loved playing in the BIG arena.  Louie Kuka scored the lone goal for the team which also happened to be his first goal of the season, well earned I might add.  Tommy Heiser started as goalie and Timmy Kravchenko finished off the game, both played a great game.  The second and third games were played at the Twin Ponds West arena.  Timmy Kravchenko played goalie for the second game and made some big saves.  Wesley White was able to put the puck in the back of the net scoring the only goal for the team.  Chris Lamb was the net minder for the third game and also made some good saves.  The Squirt B team would like to welcome Matt Goeller to the team.  He joined us during the tournament and fit right in – great job.  All of the coaches who assisted with the team over the weekend were pleased with the effort shown by the team and we would like to thank them as well.  The boys have come a long way already and the rest of the season should be exciting. 

The Bantam AA team lost one and tied one vs. Montgomery over the weekend: 

The boys played great in the first 2 periods. It was 1-0 , at the end of the first. Then 2-0 at the end of the 2. In the 3rd period they scored 4 goals on us.

On Sunday the boys played excellent in a 4-4 game.  Anderson had the first goal , Hoegler assisted it. Yuro had an unassisted goal, then Carvano scored the third with the assist from Anderson , Carvano also scored the tying goal to top off a great day.

Titan Midget 16 American beat Mercer 6-1. John Lyons and David Ramos each had a pair of goals while Alex Strauss recorded 4 assists for the Titans. Stagliano and Barr rounded out the scoring and Zach Dietrich (0 GA, 9 Saves) and Pete Stamberger (1 GA 13 saves) split net minder duties for the win

A busy holiday weekend is on tap for some of the T2 Titan teams.  The Hershey Jr. Bears are hosting a Thanksgiving tournament with all the fixin’s.  The Mites, the Squirt A, Squirt B, PeeWee A black, PeeWee B, Bantam A black and 2 Bantam B teams will be competing at 4 different venues from Friday ’til Sunday.  Best of luck to all of the Titan teams.  See you in Chocolate World!

The Squirt Minor team broke out at Hackensack in an AYHL game over the weekend, routing the Avs 8-3, and showing their improvement.  First period goals by Robby Feathers and Zach Berzolla assisted by Ryan Walker gave the Titans a 2-0 lead which they would never relinquish. 

The barrage continued into the second with goals by Noah Yuro from Shane Haviland, Mitchell Grogan from Matt Swan, and Ryan Walker twice, with Haviland gaining a second assist.  Zach added another tally in the third as did Mitchell, combining again with Swann.  Brian Harlow and Spencer Reu shared netminding duties to get the win.  The defense of the Titans held the Avs to just 14 shots for the entire game. 

Great game kids!

The Titans traveled up to the Rock Ice Pavillion in Dunellen to play the NJ Penguins and were looking to play 3 periods of solid hockey to carry into this weekend’s holiday tournament. The steady play and victory unfortunately got overshadowed by a serious injury to dependable blueliner Devon Corso.

At 5:38 in the second period, Devon crashed into the boards in the offensive zone and went down in noticeable pain. Later we found that he had broken a bone in his leg as well as his ankle. A quality player such as Devon will be seriously missed.  The the injury likely has ended his season. More importantly, lets hope he heals well and has a speedy recovery.   Keep smiling  Devon!. 

The Titans struck first at the 9:40 mark on a goal by Conrad Quinn when he found a loose puck in a scramble in front of the net and put it up over the goalie. Thomas Wiedmann manning the nets was looking sharp for most of the period killing off three penalties but the Penguins found the net at 5:15 to tie the game 1-1 ending the first period.

The Titans wasted no time taking back the lead when Brian Walsh scored 30 seconds into the second on an assist by Charlie Morton. At 13:58 the Titans went ahead 3-1 on a weird deflection off a Penguin defenseman with Pat Bruno getting credit for the goal. Wiedmann, with great defensive help, clamped down in nets and turned away all shots he faced ending the second period 3-1.

Corso’s injury at the end of second seemed to get the boys understandably off focus at the start of the third. The Penguins took advantage when a speedy winger went buy our defense and scored on a breakaway past Wiedmann at 12:21. The boys regained their composure and played a solid third period with good penalty killing, defense, and a great forechecking game by our offensive players! Our offense had a team high 40 shots on net! The Penguins being badly outshot and outplayed did manage a late powerplay goal at 1:44 that Wiedmann had stopped, but dropped out of his grasp and was scooped in by the Penguins tying the game 3-3.

Timmy Behan was not going let this solid team effort go to waste when he answered back 7 seconds later on a wicked shot the Penguin goalie is still looking for. The game winner came at 1:38 for a 4-3 victory. Keep up the hard work boys and good luck this weekend!   All our prayers are with you Devon. Good luck on your recovery!

  A great sweep for the Jr C’s this past weekend. The players all worked hard and gave their talent to the ice.
     To start the weekend the Titans had Yllano Tubilleja in goal. On Saturday he faced 38 shots from Hampton Roads Whalers. The Titans sent 30 shots on goal to their opponents. In the first period the Titans scored one from Angelo Rosena assisted by Bill Gubelman. Although the Titans only scored once they were persistent in driving at the goal and placing pressure on the Whalers.
     In the second period the Whalers scored one making it a tied game at 1-1. The game seemed to flow back and forth in middle ice. Both teams were looking for their moment. The Titans came back right away and placed a goal in net pushing them once again in front. The goal was scored from Kevin Pecca making a drive to net. Ten more minutes into the period again allowed the Whalers to sink one into the net. The Game has definately proven to both teams not to turn their backs. Each team pushes hard to fall on top. At the end of the second the score is 2-2.
     Finally in the third the Titans end the back and forth play and score one. Bobby Deatrick cashes in a goal from Mark Sabatini and Mike Garbrandt. Another goal was scored from Bill Gubelman. Thus placing the score at Titans 4 and Whalers 2. A great win and boost of confidence brings the Titan players together.

     On Sunday again the two teams would face each other. The Titans wanting another win and the Whalers wanting revenge from the day before.
     One minute into the game showed that the Titans were on the way. Charlie Bregenzer drives to the net catching a pass from Matt Keane and Angelo Rosena. Bregenzer starts the Titans off with a 1-0 game. Again several back and forth plays show the two teams desires. Defensively the Titans don’t allow the Whalers in this period. Another goal was scored from Matt Zocco passed from Joey Torrisi and Cameron Bregenzer.  The 2-0 score was soon to change though.
     During the second period again the titans scored two goals. One from Angelo Rosena assisted by Matthew Keane, and the second score from Matthew Keane assisted by Angelo Rosena and Charlie Bregenzer. This line has proven to come and make a stand. A strong effort by all. In the second the Whalers finally broke through the net to score one. At the end of the second the Titans are 4- Whalers 1.
     The Titans came out in the third allowing Michael Piet to score from Ben Yuro. Great passing and confidence help the team lead the 5-1 game. This soon would change. It initially appeared that the Titans would not give the Whalers a chance. Then suddenly a rough last 6 minutes of the game changed everyone’s view. The Whalers came back to score 3 additional goals. The Titans needed to stay out of the box and again fight back. The Whalers pull their goalie to give one last effort.At the buzzer a relieved Titan team came out on top. The final score was Whalers 4- Titans 5. Great weekend by all Jr C players!

Saturday nights game verses the Clarkstown Capitals saw the old story of ” Davey vs. Goliath” play out. The Capitals were a huge physical team that worked to wear down its smaller opponents. This was by far the most punishing game to date. The Titans however were not intimidated by the size of this team and threw their bodies around the rink and matched the Caps hit for hit. The hard work finally paid off in the middle of the 1st when Charlie Morton whipped a shot into the corner of the net off a nice feed from Will Conte and Conrad Quinn to take the lead 1-0. Cody Reilly in net held off numerous chances by the Caps but held them off the board to end the first 1-0.

Reilly was on his game in the second period when the Caps had back to back power play opportunities which included a 5 on 3 and denied them both with some acrobatic saves. Minutes later, however the Caps finally broke through Reilly when a rebound shot found its way in over the sprawled out netminder to tie the score 1-1. The Titans seemed to catch a break to regain some momentum when they went to work on a power play. An aggressive Capital penalty kill unit forced an errant pass and took advantage of a downed Titan defenseman to break in alone and score a short-handed goal taking a 2-1 lead that they never surrendered. The Caps opened the lead to 3-1 minutes later when a blast from the left circle squeezed itself in on the shortside of the net that Reilly had covered. That was definitely a seeing eye puck ending the period 3-1.

 The Caps continued their physical play into the third and it seemed to finally wear down a feisty Titan team. It was a up and down played period that saw some huge hits and big saves on both sides. The Cap defense gave nothing away and never seemed to be caught out of position giving up only 15 shots on net and killing all 5 power play chances. Reilly, playing one of his best games, stopped everything thrown at him in the third to end the game stopping 21 of 24 shots on net! Cody was pulled for a extra attacker in the closing minutes of the game but the Caps found the empty net for a 4-1 lead. Not hanging their heads low the Titans never gave up as Pat Bruno on an assist from Billy Regan scored with 25 seconds left to end the game 4-2. This was a awesome effort by everybody against a very tough team. I’m sure the boys slept well Saturday night!

The weekend games started with a defensive showdown and ended on an offensive flurry.

Saturday, defense was on tap against a pesky Phantom team that never let down. Who ever coined the phrase, “the best offense is a good defense”, was right on the mark for this particular game. Charlie Morton’s short handed goal at the 23.5 mark of the 1st period was all the Titans needed for the victory. Hats off to the defense who never let the Phantoms gain any momentum and kept the traffic to a minimum in front of Cody Reilly who posted our first shutout of the season! Reilly was once again sharp and turned away all 17 shots faced! 

When there was a rebound the defense moved people away from the net and helped earn a hard fought goose egg. The Titans showed off some muscle in the first period when Billy Regan and Bam-Bam Bruno introduced themselves to a couple Phantoms who decided to push after the whistle. Teammates sticking up for each other is what this is all about. The game settled down into a goalie duel afterward and no other scuffles occurred …. 1-0 Titans. Nice game boys!  

Sunday saw a complete opposite game unfold with lots of scoring and special teams play. After a scoreless first period with the Titans carrying the play and Thomas Wiedmann minding the net, things got going in the second. The Blazers opened up a 2-0 lead in a 1:35 span at the 11:56 mark of the second that seemed to put a charge into our offense. Jonathan Weinstein cut the lead in half with a PP goal at 7:36 and it seemed we were on our way. Charlie Morton scored on an assist by Maguire to tie at 3:39 and 1:20 later Timmy Behan scored the go ahead goal off a beautiful mid-ice pass from Sean Mulkeen. The lead didn’t hold for long when the Blazers whipped a shot over the shoulder of goalie Thomas Wiedmann. The second ended a 3-3 tie.

The Blazers carried the momentum over into the third and scored off a weird deflection off a skate in front the net at 12:00 to take the lead 4-3. The Titans answered back at 10:43 to tie the score on a hard working play by Pat Bruno. A screened Thomas Wiedmann couldn’t track down a shot from the left circle at 7:10 and the Blazers once again led.  Untimely penalties kept the boys off balance and found ourselves in a 5 on 3 penalty kill. A comeback was put on hold when the Blazers scored on the PP at 5:56 and we were still a man down for another 2 minutes. Give credit to the boys for not giving up though as Charlie Morton scored with Wiedmann pulled for an extra attacker at 23 seconds to end the scoring 6-5. This was one that got away from us.

The The Junior B squad went to Kettler Capitals Iceplex to face the Jr. Capitals this weekend.  On Saturday night they lost 3-2.   After taking a 1-0 lead at the 23 second mark on a goal by Jessie Krauss, the Titans gave one up 2 minutes later and a short handed goal at the end of the period.  The Caps went up 3-1 as the second started.  Penalties kept the Titans at bay, yet Lou Balzano scored a shorthanded goal at the 12 minute mark of the second to tighten it to 3-2.  The Titans would not find the equalizer in a scoreless third, and Patrick Murray’s 33 saves went down as a loss.

The Sunday morning game would have a decidedly different look.  The Titans would need to come back from 2-0 and 4-3 deficits.  This time the third was not scoreless, it was all Titans.  Five unanswered tallies from the middle of the second gave them the 8-4 win, while Murray stopped 34 Capital shots.  Jessie Krauss, Geogre Lotito, and Michael Kolbasowski each had 2 goals in the victory.

The squad continues to maintain their first place position in their Metropolitan Junior Hockey League Jim Dowd Division standings with 24 points.  The second place NJ Rockets have 17.  Next up is an away (Sat.) and home game (11:15 Sunday morning) with the Little Flyers this weekend.  Good luck Titans!

Tough weekend for the Junior C’s. We played the undefeated #1 Mass Maple Leafs who remain on top of the standings. Unfortunately we also went up there with several injuries.

 They knew they were facing a good team. The Leafs have scored 16, 20 and 13 goals against some good hockey clubs.  On Saturday at the drop of the puck the Titans realized this was going to be a tough hill to climb. The Maple leafs scored in one minute of the game. The Titans fought back but another Titan penalty led to a second score, and it was Mass 2-0.

     The Leafs again came out strong and scored 3 goals in the first 8 min of the period. The Titans still struggled to stay in the game. Several good passes were made and the Titans finally broke through. Mark Sabatini placed one in the net from Bobby Deatrick. The Titans never quit. At the end of the second the score was Mass 6-1.

     In the third the Titans came out strong to set the tempo. Bill Gubelman slammed one in from a great pass. Shortly after that again the Titans scored from Charlie Bregenzer slamming one on goal and Matt Keane picking up the rebound. Even though the Titans were on a rally it ended abruptly.   Mass scored a remaining 5 goals making the final score 11-3. In net was Mark Tannenhaus who faced a total 35 shots on goal.

     On Sunday the boys wanted to improve on Saturday’s showing.  With a good nights rest the game was on. Unfortunately the Titans stepped into a mold similar to the day before. One minute into the game Mass scored a goal. By the end of the first the Titans were down 4-0. A frustrating moment for all NJ fans.

     In the second the boys struggled back. Mike Garbrandt scored from Angelo Rosena. Also Ben Yuro from Zach Belfer. Thus making the score at the end of the second Titans 2, Mass 6.  In the third the Titans played strong. The defense kept the Leafs out of the net and challenged them unlike any time over the weekend. The Titans managed to hold Mass. to only one goal this period.  A tough weekend but ending on an up note with good Titan Spirit. Final score Mass 7- Titan 2. Again in net was Tannenhaus with 39 shots on goal as opposed to the Titan placing a 27 shots on goal.  

The 2 losses leave the Titans in 4th place in the CHA North Division, where both the Leafs 13-0 and the Jr. Penquins 11-1 have been very dominating teams.

On Nov. 10 the Bantam B Red team went to visit  the United States Military Academy at West Point and play on the Army hockey arena. It was a beautiful day for the visit allowing the boys to tour the campus after their game.  Coach Haberbusch, who is the assistant coach for Army, gave the boys a tour of the locker room and campus.  The boys were amazed at the facilities that the hockey players had and wanted to know when they might expect a lounge like Army’s.  Coach then explained to them what was expected from the cadets, whether they played hockey or not.  

The boys learned about the Academy’s history and were very impressed with some of the people who graduated from West Point.  After the tour it was off to dinner for the team in the town of Highlands.  The food, people and atmosphere were wonderful and the boys were well taken care of.  Next on the list was the Army versus AIC game.  The boys watched as Army easily beat AIC, showing what great hockey players they are.  The Army players were amazing to watch and the arena was packed with fans.  It was fun to watch the excitement from both the players and fans.  After the game the boys were invited to the locker room where they were able to meet the Army team and get autographs.  The players then invited the boys to eat with them there in the locker room.  The Bantam B Red wants to thank Randy Walker for all his help setting this up as this was a day they will always remember.

Good afternoon Rob,

Thank you so much for your kind hospitality on Saturday. Our Bantam B team and their families completely enjoyed the entire experience, especially the time spent with your players after the game. We appreciate all the time you spent with our players – going above and beyond expectations.  Please express our sincere gratitude to all those involved in putting our visit together including Steve Pine and the Bear Mountain organization.

 Thanks again and we look forward to continuing our Jr. Titans visits to West Point.   I look forward to speaking with you soon

 Regards,

 Randy Walker

NJ Jr. Titans 

Coach Haberbusch responded to the gratitude of the Coach Walker 

“Walks,Thanks for the email and thanks for your support of our team.  The Bantams were enthusiastic and well behaved.  They were a pleasure to have. Please stay in touch.  The Titans are welcome any time!”

Rob Haberbusch, Assistant Hockey Coach, United States Military Academy

Army Game summary:

http://www.goarmysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=48075&SPID=4588&DB_OEM_ID=11100&ATCLID=1309754

Coach Haberbusch has intimate knowledge of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and the teams with which Army competes every year. His familiarity with some of the top junior hockey programs across the country and skill at attracting top student-athletes into the college ranks is exactly what Riley was aiming for when he hired Rob as his assistant coach. He has served as chief coordinator for recruiting at both Iona and the University of Findlay, while also coaching the defense at each respective school. Rob also has served as the head coach of the Mid-American squad at the U.S. Select Hockey Festival for six summers, leading the 2002 club to a fourth-place showing – its highest finish ever at the festival. From 1994-96, the Garden State native served as head coach at Bridgewater-Raritan High School in Bridgewater, N.J., where he led his charges to the New Jersey Interscholastic Hockey League state tournament in the school’s first year of varsity competition.